by:  Jack Bratcher

When Frank Trigg steps into the ring on August 4th to face PRIDE veteran and Olympic Judo Gold-Medalist, Makoto Takimoto, he will be coming back from a nine month layoff.  On the other hand, Takimoto’s last fight was in March of this year.  Rumors ran rampant, negotiations were stifled, and contracts fell through all during 2008 as managers and promoters worked trying to find Trigg a fight.  An organization gets alot of baggage when they sign Frank Trigg to a fight deal and certain organizations just aren’t willing to deal with that.  When I speak of baggage, I’m talking about “the brand” that is Frank Trigg.  He has a clothing line, Triggonomics.  He has commentator obligations, he’s a radio host, he’s a professional wrestler on TNA, and he has a pregnant wife with a baby due later this year.  So there is alot to consider and work around if you’re trying to sign Frank Trigg.  Evidently, World Victory Road, said the right things, pushed the right buttons, and showed the right green to sign the number seven ranked middleweight in the world (according to Sherdog and me:))

Trigg, the black belt judoka will be facing the gold-medalist judoka in Makoto Takimoto.  Takimoto won an Olympic Gold Medal in Judo at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney Australia.  Four years later Takimoto made his MMA debut at PRIDE Shockwave where he defeated Henry Miller by decision.  Takimoto’s record is four wins and four losses.  Three of his four wins have come by decision and one win by Kimura submission.  Takimoto’s most notable win came at Yarenoka last December with an upset win over Murilo Bustamante by split decision.  His most notable loss came just three months later, in April of this year, when he was submitted in the first round by Evangelista Santos. Makoto Takimoto has trained in boxing and kickboxing in addition to his judo. He should prove to be a worthy opponent for Trigg and their styles should make for an entertaining fight.

Here’s a video of Takimoto when he fought Evangelista Santos. Although Takimoto lost, you can get somewhat an idea of the kind of style he may bring to the fight. Enjoy.

more about “Video Evangelista Santos vs. Makoto T…“, posted with vodpod

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